Binder for loose leaves or sheets



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 27 1V 95- a gmzntoo Huberiuburn H. AUBURN BINDER FOR LOOSE LEAVES OR SHEETS Filed NOV. 9, 1951 Dec. 13, 1932.

Dec. 13, 1932. H, AUBURN BINDER FOR LOOSE LEAVES OR SHEETS Filed Nov. 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnwmoz fu bert A u b u rn Patented Dec. 13, 1932 PATENT GFECF.

HUBERT AUBURN, F MOUNT HEALTHY, OHIO BINDER FOR LOOSE LEAVES OR SHEETS Application led November 9, 1931. Serial No. 573,911.

This invention relates to a binder for loose leaves or sheets.

An object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binder which is exceptionally durable and the relatively movable parts of which are so related to one another that the operations of releasing and of locking the binder sheets in place may be effected more quickly, accurately, and easily, than is usual with the devices of this general character.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character the sheets of which are supported in stacked relationship upon a series of sheet holding bars or members which may a5 be swung selectively about pivots at either of their two ends, thereby providing an exceedingly durable and effective means for permitting removal or addition of sheets, at either lthe top or bottom of the stack, without dismantling the binder.

Another object is to provide in combination with a device of the kind herein referred to, a simple means for precluding mutilation of the inner edges of the sheets while the binder is being operated.

A further object is to provide a loose leaf binder in which thesheets are maintained in perfectly stacked formation, with their edges y coinciding, when the binder is in condition so for removal or addition of sheets or leaves.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device shown in opened position, part thereof being broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view taken on line 3&3 of Fig. 1 and showing the device in position for replacement of sheets.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a latch bar forming a detail of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a latch bar guide relative to which the latch bar may slide longitudinally.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental plan view of a protective Hy leaf and edge strip or guard therefor.

Fig. 7 illustrates a modified form.

The device of this invention comprises a binder back 7, the longitudinal side edges of which have hinged thereto the front and back binder covers 8 and 9 respectively, and a series 55 of sheet holding members or bars 10 supported transversely of the back and in substantial spa-ced parallel relationship thereto, the ends of which bars may be selectively released from connection with the binder back, as indicated in Fig. 3, for the removal or addition of binder sheets. As indicated in Fig.

3 one end of the sheet supporting bar may be released so that the stack of sheets 12 may assume a position upon the back cover 9, the opposite end of the sheet holding bar being pivotally supported relative the binder back. In accordance with the invention, that end of the sheet holding bar which in Fig. 3 is shown free from connection with the 70 binder back, may be retained in connected relationship therewith while the opposite end is released, so that the stack of sheets may be disposed upon the inner face of the front cover 8. A description of the means whereby the ends of the sheet holding bars may selectively be released, is given in the following paragraphs.

By referring to F ig. 2, it becomes readily evident that the binder back 7 has screwed 30 or otherwise secured thereto a binder back plate 13, the opposed longitudinal edges 14 and 15 of which are developed into hinge eyes for reception of hinge pins 16 and the hinge eyes 1T and 1S carried by the front 85 and bach binder covers 8 and 9 respectively. The plates or strips 19 which support the hinge eyes of the cover members may be embedded in the material of the covers or secured thereto in any other suitable manner. rEhe characters .70 indicate a series of rollers, rotatably supported on hinge pin 16, upon which rollers the inner edges of the covers 8 and 9 may rest while the covers are being moved to the open or closed positions.

The binder back plate 13 provides a support for apair of latch devices indicated generally by the characters 20 and 21 which in turn support the releasable sheet holding bars 10. The latch devices are identical in Cil construction7 wherefore a detail description of one will sui'iice for the other also. Each latch device comprises the parts 22 and 23, part 22 being a latch bar preferably of strap metal provided along its top edge with a series of longitudinal notches 24 having overhanging them the pins or extensions 25 which point in a common direction and which lie in the plane of the latch bar. One end of the latch bar may be provided with a manipulating handle or lug 2G whereby the latch bar may be reciprocated when disposed within t-he latch bar guide 23. The latch bar guide 23 may be constructed of an inverted U-shaped strip having the spaced parallel legs 27 and 2S, the edges 29 of which are adapted to abut or be fastened to the plate 13. Any suitable means such as extending bendable lugs 30 adapted to enter suitable perforations 3l of plate 13, may be provided for maintaining the edges 29 of the latch bar guide in contacting` relationship with the back plate. Suitable notches may be provided along the top edge of the latch bar guide, the notches being so spaced as to register with the openings o3 provided near the free ends of the lugs or extensions F rom the foregoing itshould be apparent that the latch bar may be reciprocably mounted between the legs of the latch bar guide 23, and that upon reciprocation of the latch bar the spaces 33 and extensions 25 may selectively be disposed in coinciding relationship with the notches 32 of the latch bar guide. T he guide 28 may be provided with a transverse pin Se adapted to contact a wall of one of the notches for the purpose of limiting reciprocating movement of the latch bar within the guide. rllhe transverse pcrforations and 3? at the ends of the sheet holding bars l0 are adapted to receive the extensions or lugs 25 of the latch devices 2O and 2l respectively, so as to prov'de a connection between the ends of thehold ing bars and the latch bar guide members, as indicated in Fig. l. To make possible the condition illustrated in Fig. 3, it is necessary only to retract the extensions or lugs 25 by .pulling outwardly the latch bar 22 by means of the handle or lu(r 26, which disposes the spaces 38 in registration with the notches 32 and permits ready removal of that end of the holding bar provided with the perforation 3G. Should it be desired to release the other end of the sheet holding bar7 it is necessary only to actuate the latch bar associated with the other latch device 2l, whereupon the stack of sheets on the holding bar may be rotated relative to the latch device 2O for causing the stach of sheets to assume a position in abutment upon the top cover member 8. From the foregoing it should be apparent that the sheets remain always in perfectly stacked format-ion with their corresponding edges coinciding, the action of the latch means being effective, certain and free of complications. it will be noted also that no dismantling of the binder is necessary to the operation of the device.

Means are provided for precluding possible mutilation of the inner edges 38 of' the sheets upon movement of the sheet holding bars to tne normal connected position. Said means comprise a pair of protective flyleaves 3) and i0 each having secured along the inner edge el thereof ak metallic guard 4.2 having an inwardly-turned curved portion extending beyond the inner edges 38 of the sheets. rEhe guard plate preferably7 is secured to the protective fly-leaf by any suitable means such as rivets 44, and, like the sheets l2, the guard is provided with perforations l5 for reception of the sheet holding l l0. By referring to Fig. 3, it will be clearly understood that the curved ends 43 of the guard plate will guide the stach of leaves accurately into the space between the latch `devices 2O and 2l. To add or remove sheets of the stack l2, it is necessary only to lift the protective ily-leaf and the desired number of sheets from their positions on the sheet helding bars, and to replace the iiy-leaf together v. ith the sheets required to be added to the binder.

In the modified form of the device as illustrated in Fig. 7, the binder back comprises the two parts and 5l, part 50 being the combination hinge eye and latch device supporting plate, and part 5l being the supporting plate cover. The cover 5l comprises a curved plate the inner surface of which has spot welded or otherwise secured thereto, at 53, the bridge plates 5% each of which is provided with a plurality of integral upwardly extending bendable lugs or fasteners adapted to enter suitable coinciding openings or slots 5G in the plate 50. The lugs are adapted to be turned or bent over after insertion through the openings 56, for holding the parts together. Lilie the plate 13 of Fig. 27 the plate 50 is provided with the integral hinge eyes ll and l5 and adjacent thereto are tif-:cd the latcn guides in which maj,Y slide the latch bars 22 carrying the handles or extensions 26. The pins 25 are shown also in T, as are the stops rlhe cover plate 52 preferably has secured thereto by means of glue, cement7 or other fastening means., one or more layers 57 of covering material which may be leather. cloth or tno nxe. The edges 5S of the covering material preferably are turned inwardly as shown. rnd he covering` material does not nnge eyes out leaves them exposed ie covering material is not liable to have the hinge eyes wear through and mar the appearance the binder. By providing for a separate cover for the binder back, a it economy of material is effected since the covering layer 57 may be made from scraps remaining after cutting out coverings for the large covers 8 and 9. The downwardly turned ends 59 of the plate 50 provide closure plates for the space between the members 50 and 51 and the curved edge 60 thereof is adapted to rest upon the covering mate ial ends 58.

rlhe latch bar guides 23 of Fig. 7 may be secured to the bach plate as in Fig. 2, or in any other practical manner. The means of F i T is, of course, adapted for association `sith sheet holding bars such as are indicated at 10 in the other views of the device.

In order to adapt the device for permanently binding a stack of sheets, there may be provided a suitable opening 47 4) in the latch bar 22 and a partially punched bendable lug 48 (Fig. 5) in one of the legs of the latch bar guide, which bendable lug may be bent inwardly to enter the opening 47 and loch the latch bar and guide permanently against relative movement. From the foregoing it should readily be apparent that the improved binder is sturdy and simple of construction and that the parts are so related as to render the device easy to handle and inexpensive to manufacture. Because of the fact that the sheets are always maintained with their corresponding edges in coinciding relationship, the sheets are preserved and protected against injury. It will be readily understood that by withdrawing the latch bar of both of the latch devices 20 and 21, the stach of sheets and the sheet holding bars associated therewith may be removed bodily fron the binder and replaced with other sheets and holding bars.

It is to be understood that various modiications and changes in structural details of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

T#"l'vhat is claimed is:

1. A loose leaf binder structure comprising in combination a substantially Hat back plate, hinge members thereon, a sheet holding member adapted to receive thereon a stack of sheets, means on the back plate in parallelism with the hinge members for detachably supporting the sheet holding member, a curved bach plate cover, a bridge plate secured to the concave surface of the said curved cover, coopera-tive securing means on the bridge plate and the back plate for connection thereof one to the other, covering material on the convex face of the curved cover and having its edges turned inwardly over the edges of the curved cover` and in contact with the concave surface thereof for disposition between the back plate and the curved cover.

2. A loose leaf binder structure comprising in combination a substantially liat back plate, hinge members thereon, a sheet holding member adapted to receive thereon a stach of sheets, means on the back plate in parallelism with the hinge members for detachably supporting the sheet holding member, a curved back plate cover, a bridge plate secured to the concave surface of the said curved cover, cooperative securing means on the bridge plate and the back plate for connection thereof one to the other, covering material on the convex face of the curved cover and having its edges turned inwardly over the edges of the curved cover and in contact with the concave surface thereof for disposition between the back plate and the curved cover, and an angularly turned end on the back plate having an edge curved to it the curvature of the curved cover and adapted to clamp upon the covering material and to provide a closure for the space between the flat back plate and the curved cover member.

3. A loo-se leaf binder structure comprising in combination a substantially flat back plate, hinge members thereon, a sheet holding member adapted to receive thereon a stack of sheets, means on the back plate in parallelism with the hinge members for detachably supporting the sheet holding member, a back plate cover having an inner and an outer face, a bridge plate extending from the inner surface of the back plate cover, cooperative securing means for connecting the bridge plate and the back plate one to the other, a cover material on the outer face of the back plate cover and having its edges turned inwardly over the edges of the back plate cover and in contact with the inner surface thereof for disposition between the back plate and the back plate cover.

4. A loose leaf binder structure comprising in combination a. substantially flat back plate, hinge members thereon, a sheet holding member adapted to receive thereon a stack of sheets, means on the back plate in parallelism with the hinge members for detachably supporting the sheet holding member, a curved back plate cover, a bridge plate extending from the concave surface of the said curved cover, said bridge plate having a flat top upon which the back plate may rest and be rigidly positioned relative to the back plate cover, means associated with the bridge plate and the back plate for securing them together in flatly abutting relationship, and covering material on the convex face of the curved cover and having its edges turned inwardly over the edges of the curved cover and in contact with the concave surface thereof for disposition between the back plate and the curved cover.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day of November,

HUBERT AUBURN. 

